Multi-cable laying blades or chutes

ABSTRACT

A cable guiding chute suitable for attachment to a ground slitting blade to dispense a plurality of cables includes a primary box-like structure comprising a pair of parallel J-shaped sidewalls. A divider component is pivotally supported by the sidewalls and is nestable within the box-like structure to define a plurality of cable-guiding channels or conduits. The divider component includes a generally J-shaped support plate which is parallel to and adjacent with one of the sidewalls, and a plurality of cable guide separators which are mounted on the divider support plate to extend perpendicular to the sidewalls. The cable guide separators extend from a cable entry region to a cable exit region and include arcuate portions to direct cables from a generally vertical orientation upon entry into the chute to a generally horizontal orientation for placement in the ground. When the divider component is nested within the box-like structure, the separators, in conjunction with said sidewalls and support plate, define a plurality of closed cable guiding conduits. The pivotal connection enables the divider component to be withdrawn from between the sidewalls, in which position the Jshaped support plate and the cable guide plates define laterally open channels to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables.

United States Patent [191 Baylor 1 Dec. 16, 1975 MULTI-CABLE LAYING BLADES OR Cl-IUTES [75] Inventor: John M. Baylor, Bettendorf, Iowa [73] Assignee: J.I. Case Company, Racine, Wis.

[22] Filed: Dec. 9, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 530,890

[52] US. Cl. 61/72.6

[51] Int. Cl. E02F 5/02 [58] Field of Search 6l/72.l72.7;

37/193, DIG. 18; 172/40 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor [5 7 ABSTRACT A cable guiding chute suitable for attachment to a ground slitting blade to dispense a plurality of cables includes a primary box-like structure comprising a pair of parallel J-shaped sidewalls. A divider component is pivotally supported by the sidewalls and is nestable withinthebox-like structure to define a plurality of cable-guiding channels or conduits. The divider component includes a generally J-shaped support plate which is parallel to and adjacent with one of the sidewalls, and a plurality of cable guide separators which are mounted on the divider support plate to extend perpendicular to the sidewalls. The cable guide separators extend from a cable entry region to a cable exit region and include arcuate portions to direct cables from a generally vertical orientation upon entry into the chute to a generally horizontal orientation for placement in the ground. When the divider component is nested within the box-like structure, the separators, in conjunction with said sidewalls and support plate, define a plurality of closed cable guiding conduits. The pivotal connection enables the divider component to be withdrawn from between the sidewalls, in which position the J-shaped support plate and the cable guide plates define laterally open channels to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 MULTI-CABLE LAYING BLADES OR CHUTES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various cable guiding chutes have been proposed by the prior art and include varying configurations and design. One very basic shortcoming in conventional cable chutes is the failure to provide an apparatus capable of 1) simultaneously guiding and laying a plurality of cables, or the like, without requiring a complicated structure, and (2) providing accessiblity to the cable guiding conduits to remove, insert or replace cables as the need arises.

An example of the prior art includes, first, US. Pat. No. 3,395,545 to Mendaloff, which discloses a cable guiding compartment that is releasably maintained within the chute. This patent, rather than suggesting the present invention, illustrates one of the basic problems in the art, i.e. non-accessibility to the cable guiding conduits. Further, the suggested Mendaloff chute does not include the provision of cable guiding separators extending the length of the chute, thereby requiring additional guiding structure in the form of rollers.

Another example of prior art patents which broadly teach the idea of simultaneously guiding and laying a plurality of cables includes US. Pat. Nos. 3,222,876 and 3,338,060 to Harmstorf. These patents likewise do not teach the use of any structure to yeild accessibility to the guiding chutes to accomodate ease in removing or inserting cables or the like.

Several prior art patents include a general teaching of a removable component to provide accessibility to the interior of the cable guiding chute, examples of such prior art being U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,363,423 to Davis, 3,111,007 to Ryan, 3,405,533 to Fries and 3,417,571 to Kelley. It can readily be seen from these patents that there is no hint of the structure proposed by the present application which would yield accessibility to the interior of the cable chute capable of dispensing and guiding a plurality of cables or the like:

Yet another embodiment of a cable chute for dispensing a plurality of cables includes an arrangement consisting of a plurality of individual conduit members which may be connected to one another in a piggy back manner. This particular arrangement is highly undesireable for several reasons, including (1) in accessibility to the interior of any one or more of the cable guiding conduits, (2) the requirement of mounting structure for attaching each individual cable guiding conduit (3) the necessity of feeding cable longitudinally through the cable guiding conduit rather than by lateral insertion as proposed by the present invention, and (4) the time required for attaching each individual cable guiding conduit.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art cable chutes while providing numerous other advantages as will become apparent through study of the remaining portions of this application and through use of the suggested structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cable chute proposed by the present invention is particularly suitable for use in combination with a ground slitting implement such as a blade interconnected with a prime mover.

The chute, per se, includes a box-like structure including a pair of vertical, spaced sidewall members having a J- or L-shaped configuration for guiding a plurality of cables from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation for placement in the ground. The chute further includes a forward J- shaped member extending from the top of the sidewalls to the lower rear portion of the sidewalls to generally define a region for the passage of the cables. A divider component is pivotally supported by the sidewalls to enable insertion of same into a nesting arrangement within the sidewalls and to further enable withdrawal to facilitate insertion or removal of cables from the chute. The divider component includes a supporting sidewall plate having a generally J-shaped configuration which is not as wide as the sidewalls of the box-chute structure. A plurality of separators are connected to the supporting sidewalls to define cable guiding conduits within the chute and include respective parallel arcuate portions to direct the cables into the proper horizontal orientation for placement in the ground. One of the separators is generally aligned with the rearward most edges of the sidewalls when the divider component is in its nested position and thereby completely closes the chute, except for the upper cable entry region and the lower rearward cable exit region. The divider component is releaseably maintained in its nested position for cable laying operation by a locking assembly including a pair of ears connected to and projecting rearwardly from the chute sidewalls. These ears each include a hole which mates with a tube connected to the rearward most plate on the divider component to define a passage for the accomodation of a cotter pin or the like for maintaining the divider component in cable dispensing position.

When it is desired to insert, remove, or replace cables within the chute, the cotter pin is removed and the divider component is pivotally withdrawn from its nested position. Once withdrawn, the supporting side plate and the separators of the divider component define laterally open channels exposing previously positioned cable for expeditious removal if desired. If no cables were previously positioned within the chute, cables may now be easily positioned within the laterally opened channels so that the divider component may then be pivoted into its nesting position and locked into place between the chute sidewalls.

Thus, the advantages afforded by the present invention include (1) the ability to easily remove, insert or replace cables, (2) the ability to easily remove a cable for splicing upon breakage, and (3) the ability to laterally insert cables within the divider component for insertion into the chute rather than threading cables through the length of the chute as required by the prior art. Further specific advantages afforded by the present invention relating to guiding a multiplicity of cables include 1 the avoidance of tangling the cables as they pass through the chute, (2) the positioning of the cables within the ground in a layered vertical arrangement, and (3) the elimination of pressure of the cables upon one another in the region of the curvature radius in the chute.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a crawler tractor having attached thereto a cable laying implement which includes a ground slitting blade and a cable dispensing chute.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the cable dispensing and guiding chute of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the region of the cable dispensing chute where the divider component which forms the plurality of cable guiding channels is pivotally supported by the sidewall structure of the chute.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates specifically to an improved cable guiding and dispensing chute which is designed preferably to be used in combination with a ground slitting implement in the form of a blade 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The ground slitting and cable dispensing assembly is suitable for attachment to a prime mover such as a crawler tractor 14 by way of an elevatable platform and support links 16, as more fully discussed in US. Pat. No. 3,363,423 to Davis, which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the chute could be integral with the ground slitting blade as used on static plows.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a power actuated blade reciprocating mechanism 18 is employed to vertically vibrate the blade 12 for cutting a slot in the ground and includes, for example, a pair of counter-rotating eccentric masses which are commonly known in the trades as a Shaler Shaker. The cable dispensing chute itself is connected to the blade by longitudinally spaced links (not shown) which are pivoted freely at their respective opposite ends to the blade and to the chute to eliminate the transmission of vibratory motion from the blade to the chute. The blade preferably has a thickness which is similar to the thickness of the cable or pipe being dispensed and is slightly larger than the width of the cable chute. Alternatively, the chute may be slightly smaller than the width of the chute for purposes which are more fully discussed and explained in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,363,423 to Davis.

The cables 20 which are being fed into the cable dispensing and guiding chute 10 may be dispensed from a plurality of parallel cable drums 22 (only one of which can be seen in FIG. 1) which are supported by conventional support structure on the crawler tractor.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the cable dispensing chute 10 includes a pair of support brackets 24 and 26 which are mounted on a forward plate 28 to enable the linkage connection between the chute itself and the blade 12, as previously discussed. The chute 10 further includes a bottom plate 30 and a pair of sidewall plates 32 and 34 to define a generally box-like structure. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the sidewall plates 32 and 34 are generally L- or J-shaped to define a region at their upper ends through which the plurality of cables may enter. After entering the chute, the cables then pass generally downwardly through the space between the sidewall plates, and exit at the region at the lower rear portion between the plates for horizontal placement within the ground.

The primary frame structure of the cable guiding chute 10 further includes a generally .I-shaped forward plate member 36 which is connected, for example, to each of the sidewall plates 32 and 34 and which extends generally from the cable entrance region at the top of the plates to the cable exit region at the lower rear portion of the plates. As more fully discussed below, the forward plate member 36 cooperates with a removeable divider component to define a plurality of cable guiding chutes or conduits extending from the cable entrance region to the cable exit region.

The truly novel aspect of the present invention relates to the divider component or removeable backdoor for the cable chute 10. This divider component includes a generally J-shaped divider side plate or supporting plate 38 which extends generally from the cable entrance region of the chute to the cable exit region for supporting a plurality of separators 40 and 42 and a rear enclosure plate 44. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the separators and the rear enclosure plate are generally parallel with the .I-shaped forward plate 36 to define a plurality of cable guiding channels or conduits. These conduits extend from the cable entrance region to the cable exit region and include curved regions defined by arcuate portions on the separators to horizontally orient the cables for placement in the ground. The upper ends of separators 40 and 42 have rods 46 and 48, respectively, connected thereto, for example by welding, to assist in guiding the cables into position with the guide channels. More specifically, the rods 46 and 48 reduce drag and eliminate damage to the cable which might normally occur from the cables sliding against the relatively sharp edges at the ends of the separators. Similarly, the lower end portion of the forward member 36 and the separators 40 and 42 include bars 50, 52, and 54, respectively, for the same purposes. These rods are strictly optional but are recommended for the purposes previously described. Further,

rollers may be positioned along the separators 40 and 42 or along the rear enclosure plate 44, as suggested by the prior art, to further reduce drag on the cables as they are being dispensed. However, this is likewise an optional feature and has not been found necessary with the present invention since the separators are provided with an arcuate portion which extends to the cable exit region. The arcuate region on the separator and rear enclosure plate will have a radius of curvature dependent upon (1) the particular application, (2) the radius of the cable being dispensed and (3) the requirements of the consumer.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the divider component, consisting of supporting plate 38, separators 40 and 42 and rear enclosure plate 44, is nested within the sidewall structure of the cable dispensing chute to define a plurality of cable guiding channels or conduits. As previously discussed, the divider component is capable of being withdrawn from its nested position to an accessible position for cable insertion or removal, for example as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. Of course, the cables may also be inserted or removed without retracting the divider, if desired. The pivotal supporting structure is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4 and includes an ear 56 on each of the chute sidewalls 32 and 34 and a slot 58 in each of the ears. The rear enclosure plate of the divider component has a pair of structurally reinforcing gusset plates 60 and 62, to which a pin 64 is rigidly connected to fit within the laterally opposed slots 58 on the side plates 32 and 34. Accordingly, the

divider component is freely and pivotably supported by the sidewalls of the chute and is easily removeable from the chute by simply lifting the pin 64 out of the slots 58 after the chute has been pivoted out of its nested position. This feature further enables the substitution of one divider component for another to define different size channel guiding conduits for different sized cables.

The terminal, outboard ends of the pivotal pin 64 optionally include oblong-shaped retainer washer members 66 to the laterally support the divider component during pivotal movement. The retainer washer members are attached to the pivotal pin 64 by welding, for example, and are positioned on the pin to be located immediately adjacent the outboard surface of sidewalls 32 and 34.

The divider component is manually pivoted by a handle 68 and is releaseably retained in its nested position by a gate assembly which is best illustrated in FIG. 3. The gate includes a pair of ears 70 and 72 which are connected to the sidewall plates 32 and 34, for example by welding, and which project rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the sidewall plates. The divider component portion of the gate assembly includes a tube 74 which is connected to the rear enclosure plate 44 and which mates in the nested position with a hole in each of the ears 70 and 72. A cotter pin or the like can then be inserted through the holes in the ears and the tube 74 to releaseably lock the divider component into position for a cable laying operation. An alternative to the tubetype locking mechanism would be to extend gusset plate 60 into the region between the ears and the provide a hole in the gusset plate which would mate with the holes in the ears to receive a locking cotter pin.

In order to position cable or plastic pipe within the cable tube before the cable dispensing operation, the divider component would be manually pivoted from the nested position between the side plates 32 and 34 so that the separators 40 and 42 and the rear enclosure plate 44 will define laterally opened channels into which cables can be easily inserted. Once the apparatus has been readied for operation, the divider component can then be manually closed to the nested position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, whereupon a cotter pin is inserted through the ears 70 and 72 and tube 74. (Alternatively, the cables may be inserted while the divier is still in a nested position). Next, the elevatable platform 16 is lowered by the crawler hydraulic system and the blade 12 is inserted into the ground for ground slitting operation. As the prime mover advances, the blade 12 will cut a slot in the ground into which the plurality of cables or plastic pipe are dispensed by the cable chute 10.

One of the advantages afforded by the present invention includes the ability to easily reinsert a cable in the chute upon breakage. For example, when one of the cables breaks during operation, the blade and cable chute are raised from the ground, and the divider component is pivoted rearwardly after removal of the locking cotter pin. Because the separators are connected to the divider supporting plate 38 in a cantilever manner, the cable guiding channels are laterally opened after pivotal withdrawal so that the broken cable can be easily spliced and then reinserted into position in the appropriate guiding channel of the chute.

Another advantage afforded by the present invention is the ability to easily substitute one divider component for another in order to provide different sized cable guiding channels for various materials to be dispensed and positioned in the ground, for example, cables or plastic tubing. Any such replacement is accomplished by simply lifting the divider component upwardly to disengage the pivotal supporting pin 64 from the slots 58 in the sidewalls 32 and 34 and then by simply replacing a substitute divider component in the reverse operation.

Other advantages and meritorious features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of cable laying operations.

It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the overall invention and is not meant to be limiting in any manner.

Having fully and completely disclosed and described my invention, 1 now Claim:

1. In a cable guiding chute assembly including a pair of spaced, generally vertical sidewalls defining therebetween a passageway to receive generally vertically oriented cables and to guide said cables into a generally horizontal orientation for placement in the ground, the improvement of: 4

a divider component interposed between said pair of sidewalls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels, said divider component including (a) a support plate generally parallel with the sidewalls and (b) a plurality of separators rigidly connected to the support plate and being generally perpendicular thereto,"said separators extending from the support plate substantially to one of the sidewalls and having respective, generally parallel arcuate portions perpendicular to said sidewalls for guiding the cables into horizontal position for placement in the ground wherein the cable guiding channels are defined by the support plate, the separators and said one sidewall; and

releasable and engageable latching means, said means when engaged releaseably securing said divider component between the pair of sidewalls and said means when released accomodating telescopic withdrawal of said component from between the sidewalls whereupon the separators define laterally open channels to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for laying cables, plastic pipe or the like in a trench or slot cut in the ground by an earthworking implement, comprising:

a pair of generally parallel vertical plates defining a space through which a plurality of cables may be fed into the ground in a generally horizontally position, said plates defining an upper region for generally vertical cable entry and a lower region for generally horizontal cable exit;

said vertical plates being interconnected generally along one of their vertical edges and along a portion of their lower horizontal edges by additional plates to form a generally box-like structure;

a divider component pivotally supported by said vertical plates and nesting between said vertical plates in a first position to define a plurality of cable guiding conduits, said divider including (a) a supporting plate generally parallel with said vertical plates and (b) a plurality of spaced guide members connected to said supporting plate and being generally perpendicular to said vertical plates to define said plurality of conduits, said guide members extending generally from said cable entry region to said cable exit region and including generally parallel arcuate portions to guide and direct said plurality 7 of cables from a generally vertical entry orientation to a generally horizontal exit orientation; and means releasably maintaining said divider in its nested position between said vertical plates during cable laying operation, said guide members defining laterally open channels upon pivotal withdrawal of said divider from its nested position so that cables may be laterally inserted or removed.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, characterized by said vertical plates including respective, parallel slots adjacent said cable exit region, and the divider component being pivotally supported on said vertical plates by a pin connected to said divider component and seating within said pair of slots.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, characterized by one of said guide members being located adjacent the other vertical edges of said pair of vertical plates when said divider component is in its nested position, and said maintaining means including a gate assembly mounted on said one guide and on at least one of said vertical plates.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized by said gate including an ear connecting to one of said vertical plates and a tube connected to said one guide, the opening in said tube mating with an opening in said ear to receive a locking pin when said divider component is in its nested position.

6. In a cable laying apparatus, comprising, in combination, a ground slitting blade for attachment to a driving means such as a prime mover, and a cable laying chute interconnected with a trailing portion of said blade, wherein the improvement comprises means defining a plurality of separate cable guiding channels within said chute, said means including:

a pair of spaced, generally parallel L-shaped side wall plates defining a portion of said chute, the space between the upper end portions of said side walls defining an entrance region for a plurality of cables and the space between the lower end portions of said side walls defining an exit region for said cables;

a divider component releasably maintained in position between said side walls during a cable laying operation and including (a) a support plate generally parallel to said side walls, and (b) a plurality of separators connected to said support plate and being generally perpendicular to said support plate and said side walls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels, said separators extending generally from said entrance region to said exit region and having respective arcuate portions to guide and support cables as they are fed through the chute into horizontal position within a slot cut in the ground by said blade; and

means releasably maintaining said divider component in position between said side walls so that the divider may be withdrawn from the chute to remove or replace cables within said plurality of channels, said support plate and plurality of separators defining laterally open channels in the withdrawn position to enable expeditious lateral insertion or removal of cables.

7. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 6, characterized by said separators being generally J- shaped and nesting within said pair of side wall plates to guide said plurality of cables as they pass through the chute from the cable entrance region to the cable exit region.

8. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 7, characterized by said divider component being pivotally supported on said pair of side wall plates to enable pivotal withdrawal of said divider component from its position between the side wall plates upon disengagement of said releasable maintaining means.

9. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said side walls each include a slot pivotally receiving a pin connected to said divider component.

10. In a cable chute for laying and guiding a plurality of plastic pipes, electric cables or the like, said chute being suitable for attachment to the trailing end of a ground slitting implement and for insertion into the ground with said implement, comprising:

a pair of spaced, generally parallel vertical side walls terminating at an upper portion to define a region for cable entrance and at a lower rear portion to define a region for cable exit;

a forward channel-defining member between said side plates and generally perpendicular thereto, said member extending generally from said cable entrance region to said cable exit region and having an arcuate portion along its length perpendicular to said side walls;

a divider nested between said side walls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels and being removeable therefrom to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables from the chute, said divider including only one side plate adjacent to and generally parallel with one of said side walls, and at least one separator and a rear channel-defining member connected to said side plate, said separator and rear channel-defining member (a) extending generally from said cable entrance region to said cable exit region, (b) having respective arcuate portions generally parallel with the arcuate portion of said forward channel-defining member, and (0) being spaced to define a plurality of cable guiding channels;

means pivotally supporting said divider between said vertical side walls to enable withdrawal therefrom for insertion or removal of cables, said separator and rear channel-defining member forming laterally open channels upon withdrawal from between said side walls; and

means for releasably maintaining said divider be-' tween said said walls.

11. The cable chute as defined in claim 10, characterized by said side walls having a generally J-shaped configuration, and said divider side plate having a generally J-shaped configuration less than the width of said side walls.

12. In a cable laying apparatus, comprising a cable laying chute suitable for interconnection with a trailing portion of an earth slitting implement, said chute including a box-like structure, wherein the improvement comprises means defining a plurality of separate cable guiding channels within said chute, said means including:

a pair of spaced, generally parallel L-shaped side wall plates defining a portion of said box-like structure, the space between the upper end portions of said side walls defining an entrance region for a plurality of cables and the space between the lower end portions of said side walls defining an exit region for the cables;

a divider component releasably maintained in position between said side walls during a cable laying 10 means releasably maintaining said divider component in position between said side walls so that the divider may be withdrawn from the chute to remove or replace cables within said plurality of channels, said support plate and plurality of separators defining laterally open channels in the withdrawn position to enable expeditious lateral insertion or removal of cables. 

1. In a cable guiding chute assembly including a pair of spaced, generally vertical sidewalls defining therebetween a passageway to receive generally vertically oriented cables and to guide said cables into a generally horizontal orientation for placement in the ground, the improvement of: a divider component interposed between said pair of sidewalls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels, said divider component including (a) a support plate generally parallel with the sidewalls and (b) a plurality of separators rigidly connected to the support plate and being generally perpendicular thereto, said separators extending from the support plate substantially to one of the sidewalls and having respective, generally parallel arcuate portions perpendicular to said sidewalls for guiding the cables into horizontal position for placement in the ground wherein the cable guiding channels are defined by the support plate, the separators and said one sidewall; and releasable and engageable latching means, said means when engaged releaseably securing said divider component between the pair of sidewalls and said means when released accomodating telescopic withdrawal of said component from between the sidewalls whereupon the separators define laterally open channels to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables therefrom.
 2. In an apparatus for laying cables, plastic pipe or the like in a trench or slot cut in the ground by an earthworking implement, comprising: a pair of generally parallel vertical plates defining a space through which a plurality of cables may be fed into the ground in a generally horizontally position, said plates defining an upper region for generally vertical cable entry and a lower region for generally horizontal cable exit; said vertical plates being interconnected generally along one of their vertical edges and along a portion of their lower horizontal edges by additional plates to form a generally box-like structure; a divider component pivotally supported by said vertical plates and nesting between said vertical plates in a first position to define a plurality of cable guiding conduits, said divider including (a) a supporting plate generally parallel with said vertical plates and (b) a plurality of spaced guide members connected to said supporting plate and being generally perpendicular to said vertical plates to define said plurality of conduits, said guide members extending generally from said cable entry region to said cable exit region and including generally parallel arcuate portions to guide and direct said plurality of cables from a generally vertical entry orientation to a generally horizontal exit orientation; and means releasably maintaining said divider in its nested position between said vertical plates during cable laying operation, said guide members defining laterally open channels upon pivotal withdrawal of said divider from its nested position so that cables may be laterally inserted or removed.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, characterized by said vertical plates including respective, parallel slots adjacent said cable exit region, and the divider component being pivotally supported on said vertical plates by a pin connected to said divider component and seating within said pair of slots.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, characterized by one of said guide members being located adjacent the other vertical edges of said pair of vertical plates when said divider component is in its nested position, and said maintaining means including a gate assembly mounted on said one guide and on at least one of said vertical plates.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, characterized by said gate including an ear connecting to one of said vertical plates and a tube connected to said one guide, the opening in said tube mating witH an opening in said ear to receive a locking pin when said divider component is in its nested position.
 6. In a cable laying apparatus, comprising, in combination, a ground slitting blade for attachment to a driving means such as a prime mover, and a cable laying chute interconnected with a trailing portion of said blade, wherein the improvement comprises means defining a plurality of separate cable guiding channels within said chute, said means including: a pair of spaced, generally parallel L-shaped side wall plates defining a portion of said chute, the space between the upper end portions of said side walls defining an entrance region for a plurality of cables and the space between the lower end portions of said side walls defining an exit region for said cables; a divider component releasably maintained in position between said side walls during a cable laying operation and including (a) a support plate generally parallel to said side walls, and (b) a plurality of separators connected to said support plate and being generally perpendicular to said support plate and said side walls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels, said separators extending generally from said entrance region to said exit region and having respective arcuate portions to guide and support cables as they are fed through the chute into horizontal position within a slot cut in the ground by said blade; and means releasably maintaining said divider component in position between said side walls so that the divider may be withdrawn from the chute to remove or replace cables within said plurality of channels, said support plate and plurality of separators defining laterally open channels in the withdrawn position to enable expeditious lateral insertion or removal of cables.
 7. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 6, characterized by said separators being generally J-shaped and nesting within said pair of side wall plates to guide said plurality of cables as they pass through the chute from the cable entrance region to the cable exit region.
 8. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 7, characterized by said divider component being pivotally supported on said pair of side wall plates to enable pivotal withdrawal of said divider component from its position between the side wall plates upon disengagement of said releasable maintaining means.
 9. The cable laying apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said side walls each include a slot pivotally receiving a pin connected to said divider component.
 10. In a cable chute for laying and guiding a plurality of plastic pipes, electric cables or the like, said chute being suitable for attachment to the trailing end of a ground slitting implement and for insertion into the ground with said implement, comprising: a pair of spaced, generally parallel vertical side walls terminating at an upper portion to define a region for cable entrance and at a lower rear portion to define a region for cable exit; a forward channel-defining member between said side plates and generally perpendicular thereto, said member extending generally from said cable entrance region to said cable exit region and having an arcuate portion along its length perpendicular to said side walls; a divider nested between said side walls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels and being removeable therefrom to facilitate the insertion or removal of cables from the chute, said divider including only one side plate adjacent to and generally parallel with one of said side walls, and at least one separator and a rear channel-defining member connected to said side plate, said separator and rear channel-defining member (a) extending generally from said cable entrance region to said cable exit region, (b) having respective arcuate portions generally parallel with the arcuate portion of said forward channel-defining member, and (c) being spaced to define a plurality of cable guiding channels; means pivotally supporting said Divider between said vertical side walls to enable withdrawal therefrom for insertion or removal of cables, said separator and rear channel-defining member forming laterally open channels upon withdrawal from between said side walls; and means for releasably maintaining said divider between said said walls.
 11. The cable chute as defined in claim 10, characterized by said side walls having a generally J-shaped configuration, and said divider side plate having a generally J-shaped configuration less than the width of said side walls.
 12. In a cable laying apparatus, comprising a cable laying chute suitable for interconnection with a trailing portion of an earth slitting implement, said chute including a box-like structure, wherein the improvement comprises means defining a plurality of separate cable guiding channels within said chute, said means including: a pair of spaced, generally parallel L-shaped side wall plates defining a portion of said box-like structure, the space between the upper end portions of said side walls defining an entrance region for a plurality of cables and the space between the lower end portions of said side walls defining an exit region for the cables; a divider component releasably maintained in position between said side walls during a cable laying operation and including (a) a support plate generally parallel to said side walls, and (b) a plurality of separators connected to said support plate and being generally perpendicular to said support plate and said side walls to define a plurality of cable guiding channels, said separators having respective arcuate portions to guide and support cables as they are fed through the chute into horizontal position with a slot cut in the ground by said earth slitting implement; and means releasably maintaining said divider component in position between said side walls so that the divider may be withdrawn from the chute to remove or replace cables within said plurality of channels, said support plate and plurality of separators defining laterally open channels in the withdrawn position to enable expeditious lateral insertion or removal of cables. 